Fence-post.



J. O. MACE.

FENCE POsT.

APPLICATION IVILED MAY 18, 1909.

Patented Nov. 16,1909.

Snow Won 2x35 in woes 1 of Texas,

other secured to JOHN O. MACE, F GRUNDYVILLE, TEXAS.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1c, 1909.

Application filed May 18, 1909. Serial No. 496,688.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J 611)? O'. MACE, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Grundyville, in the county of Lampasas and State have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fence posts and especially to hollow fence posts formed from galvanized sheet steel or iron.

The object of theinvention is to provide a fence post of this class which shall have increased strength, durability and stability and shall be so constructed as to dispense with the use of needless staples or hooks for securing the wires thereto.

With this object in view the invention consists in the improved construction, ar-

. rangement and combination of parts hereafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a view of a complete post in side elevation, a part being broken out to shorten the figure and the wire fastening li s being shown in different stages of manipulation, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on enlarged scale on the plane indicated by the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the braces, Fig. 4: is a detail view in side elevation of part of a 0st ready to receive a wire, Fig. 5 is a simi ar view with the wire in position but unfastened, Fig. 6 is a view of part of a post in side elevation showing one wire in position, as shown in Fig. 5, and the the post, and Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modified form.

Referring specifically to the drawings 8 indicates the body of the improved posti which is shown as cylindrical in cross section although any other suitable form in cross section may be used. To form the body 8 I take a flat sheet of sheet metal preferably iron or steel, thin readily bent into form, and galvanized to prevent rusting, and form a joint at the edges, as best shown in Fig. 2, preferably by bending one edge inward as at 9 and the other edge outward as at 10, S-shaped incisions having first been cut in proper position in the post for the location of the wires.

enough to be 1 In bending the post into form the lips 13 and 14: made by cutting the incisions 12', are slightly turned outward, as indicated in The edges of the sheetare interlocked as in Fig. 2, a suitable brace inserted within the post, in this instance of tubular form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a bolt or other suitable fastenin 16 passed through the interlocked joint, tie brace and the body of the post the joint, its projecting end opposite the joint being secured preferably by a nut as at 17 although the nut might be omitted and the projecting end riveted.

Any suitable ornamental cap, as at 18, may be placed upon the top of the post after the same has been planted in the ground 19 by driving, or other suitable means. If desired, the post may be filled with sand or similar material tightly tamped therein.

To apply the wires it is only necessary to place them in position in front of the lips 13 and 14 as shown at 20 in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, and then bend the projecting lips 13 and 14 around the wire, the former downward and the latter upward, thus firmly securing the wire in position without other fastening.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a wire .21 with the lip 1 turned around it, a wire 22 with the lip 13 turned around it and a wire 2% with I both lips turned around it the latter being i the finished condition which i also illustrated in Fig. 6. A post thusconstructed may be made of extremely light sheet metal without sacrificing its strength,durability and stability, the braces and bolts serving to tightly'secure the overlapprng edges and to give rigidity and strength to the hollow structure, The ends of the braces are shown as curved to closely fit the inner sides of the post and when the belt or other fastening is tightened up, the whole structure is sub stantially rigid.

InFig. 7 I have shun n a modification in which the edges of the sheetof which the body of the post is formed are simply overlapped as at 25 and 26, and the same brace and fastening bolt used, in the same posit tion as in the structure her inbefore described. Such a structure would obviously fall within the scope of my invention as would also'a post having the body formed of various cross sections as hereinbefore described.

I do got desire to limit myself to the exact diametrically opposite to construction shown and described as many changes and variations can be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A fence post comprising a hollow body of sheet metal having lapped edges, stiffening braces fitted within the post and fastening means passed through the lapped joint, j the braces, and the opposite side of the body of the post.

2. A fence post comprising a hollow body of sheet metal having interlocked. lapped I edges, stiffening braces fitted Within the post and fastening means passed through the lapped joint, the braces, and the oppo site side of the body of the post.

3. A fence post comprising a hollow body of sheet metal having la )ped edges, stiffeni ing braces liilfillgCillVQtl ends to closely fit l the inner sides of the post body and peri forated, a bolt passed through the lapped edges, the stiffening braces and the opposite side of the post body and means for securing the bolt in position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my gflsignature'in the presence of two Witnesses;

JOHN O. MACE.-

W i tnesses A. B. Com-own, D. G. PRICE. 

